Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-07
THE LONG STRAD.

cellar door slammed 70. and nipped OF the end OF
Aargaret'S little finger at the early age OF seven
Margaret was paSsiOnately fond or music but
she could not sing, and her encounter with the
door prevented her from being arst-rate per.
former on the piano. She would not content her.
sehwlth anything short OF perfection; and 80 for
years long and many the music within her found
DO a'terance. NJ last, after q few gray hairs
began to show themselves among her thick brown
bTIldS Prot. Mohr advised her TO learn the violin.
We were spending some happy years together In
germany, Margaret playingthe role OF guardian
Erlmaikln TO my kittenish innocence We were
not related, but as inseparable as the ladies OF
L.arSonen- took drawing lessons, and we were
b0tn deep In languages. In our free hours we
were careless and happy as lambs In clover, until
Prof. Mohrs unlucky suggestion started us on the
road 70 despair.
We were staying in Munich when this misfor-
tune overlook US. Margaret was fired with en-
thuSiasn at the thought OF possibly being good
musician at last She was past 80, and for a
Whe tortured herself with fears that this was too
orc 70 begin 10 learn anything so difficult as the
VIOLIN But they raked up for her benett many
Instances of musical prodigtes turned out late
IN NE, 10 the astOnShment OF the world and them
ssiveS. perseverance, aptitude and health would
Convinced at last OF the wisdom OF her under
taxing, and radiant with hope, Margaret engaged
master at more marks an hour than would have
paid for half a week OF operas I'm the Gallerie
Noole. She next commissioned some old virtuoSi
and dealers in musical instruments to ferret out for
her good violin from beneath the dust and rub
plsn or ages. No easy matter this. for Margaret
had read deeply on the subject and would be con-
tent with nothing OF a later date than the seven
tcenth century: and the graining OF the cum
ninsly moSaiced sycamore must undulate under
Its golden varniSh ''Iike the setting summer sun
on cloud and TaVe.F
AT the expiration OF q week Herr BratwurSt
wrote from the TyrOl. describing with flower eX-
trayagance the jewel OF an instrument he had uu-
oh att .
or an IsraetiSh gentleman in the Old clothes bus
mess. When found, this prize was wreck, gone
70 pieces under pillows OF fiInsy satin gowns and
theatrical coats of cotton velvet but carefully
together again by the magic hand OF a BratwurSt,
Is was worthy Of TaTfSiO himself. A fragment at
the back bore the precious inscription, "AntOniuS
SIraffvarus, CremOnensis Faciebat, Ammo lot"
And portion OF the instrument at least might
De regarded as thework OF this master IL was IN
shape a Long StTad" and WAS a marvellous CON-
blnation OF sycamore, Swiss pine and lemon tree.
The varnish was delight To the eve and the
tOne-but here words failed for description
The supreme moment arrived when Margaret
was 10 see this wonder, and decide whether or not
long buried colin, they were so serious about
nndolng its box, which looked SO worn and
Shabby.
Margaret was speeches. with delight when
Professor Mohr played upon IL, went into techni-
car rapture5, and eventually paid for it. smilingly
The prce OF two good pianos. Connoisseurs, even
tlose hot interested, said 1T closely resembled an
authentic Stradiy aIluS. and as such was a bar
bosom
Margaret boaght for her jewel q beautiful pol
Snea ana lnlild mahogany case, lined with blue
velvet In burst OF enthusiasm, embroidered a
nddle blanket OF tine blue CLOTH on which exc
cuted In gold thread the treble cle and Margaret
Initials, NJ A c., in beautiful silks A spray OF
flowers was depicted beneath, and / thought the
Wnole thing masterpiece OF originality aud skill
~ was lined with satin, quilted, wadded and per-
tuned; and the case with is blankets, would
nave made nice bed for one of the rolypoly Ba-
NstTlan prlncelngS We In the street with their
squadron of nurSemaids.
~
Hoin our UJtle dwelling IL was musical atnoS-
pneIe "here we nyed, and people were prepared
Tor she spaSmod1c wai1ng and sharp spiteful yells
Pfvuueed oy beginner Oh the violin. Otherwise
should have been ashamed
Margaret worked with a feverish energy, and
must confess that she made rapid progress. From
early morning till as late at night as the police
Regulations allowed she f1ddled as II for her life
she sawed the empty air with her bow to exercise
10 Dretk herself OF making hideouS faces which
Saused me great delight; raeked her brains over
Adli.fony, anu spit her own ears and mine with
studies ahead OF her capacities Her energy drove
me 10 greater activity IN my drawing which how
ever, od not bring increased pleasure. There
must have been something wrong in my character
oI AZ. vas Dot happier for this furious emulation
ot TIE mead: III were eighteen. like YOU. Kate
instead OF twice that age, would make some,
thlng OF myself Then, ashamed OF neglecting
my opportunities, would go up on the roof and
sketch clouds, while the other girls went of for a
rambie in the solitude
We gave up going to drink coffee OF an afternoon
and Margaret was mad after strings We tratled
To symphony concerts till was bored TO death
and Margaret looked victimized In the picture gal
ker1eS where formerly We had spent such happy
hours together. / began TO rue the day that she
decided 10 become famous, and jealous hatred of
the nddle arose within me- 1t had already spoiled
half my pleasure In Margaret's society and she
grew daily more absorbed In the senSeleSS thing
u relief Old not come from some quarter soon our
friendship OF years was likely TO go to pieces
These Superhuman labOrs began TO tell on Mar
garet AFTER while, and her teacher advised her to
agreed 10 accompany her. and our preparations
for the trip were quickly made. was secretly in
Iaptures at me thought Of getting rid of my
doomed 10 disappointment While arranging our
hand-luggage In as compact a form possible
learned that the violin was 10 accompany US
But, Margaret, sou need rest. Why not leave
the violin here In safe hands, and return to il re-
a week all have totled for through months" She
said. with reproachful glance; and demurred
NO longer.
ment OF torture In yard OF flannel cover 1t fllr-
ther with my blanket and an old six hapdker-
chief Of generous dimensions, draw green baize
Dag over the respondent mahogany case, and fast
ening shawl strap round the whole declared IL
ready Tor its travels.
Ny fears that the fiddle would be a marp,ot
throughout our journey were not without founda-
on, and soon realized that as trip for rest nd
creation ours was turning out failure From
the start Margaret, bewlldered and overwhelmed
with admonitton5 every porter and railway on
cIl who laid hold OF The baize bag with fTs pre
ClOlS contents WdJc0inS them With lynx ewes
and trotting along beside any In whose glance
gieamed The unlawful IRE OF coyetOusness
AT Rosenau. there was a collision between the
baize bag and orasS-na1led trunk, and hole was
Stove In the side Of the former. When Margaret
found big scratch on the mahogany case She saI
DOWN on d truck and wept openly. As we were TO
tarry a lew days at ROsehau begged nv COM
paniOn 10 have a stout box OF common wood made
Tor the fiddle 10 continue its journey in and send
the TOO magnificent receptacle back To Munich
TO this she consented and when We again get
forth, the precious Instrument repoSed Ia black
pine box of grueSome shape. II was heavily and
cluInsily made, with key as big as Mrs Blua
boards; II looked very Ike small comm: but il
was cheap and strong enough to resist any
amount OF ill-lsage-
We stopped a fortnight or more at Haidenfeld
In the southern Tyrol; pretty, reStful nook with
a deep lake walled IN by cloud-high mountains a
haIf-ruined monastery, about which a few SPECTRAL
monks still lowered and an enIicfng maze M
walks through heather aud fragrant pine place
for people not nddle-ridden 10 enjoy every mo-
ulenI-
Margaret was not IN q mood to enjoy the beau
ties OF nature Evening after evening sat alone
little balcony, watching the icy crest OF the
Adlerberg lush an exquisite pink In the setting
sun, and pale again 10 silyery white L longed for
my friends ear into which TO pour my extr,ya
giant delight In this scene; but she was in the back
room wrestling with d fageOlet tone or some
other intricacy she feared might escape her
/ saw clearly that Margaret's vacation was doing
her no good and i Was uneasy for her health The
study or the violin Is great strain upon the
strongest nerves, and Margaret had always been
rather delicate We had both fallen under a ba ie-
fuI uncs any influence, and deyotly wished that
Professor Mohr and Herr Bratwurst might have
PLAYED golden ha-pS Ia heaven before flashing
Margaret into this fiddle frerzy.